Top Spots To See Cover Bands In Houston

August 11, 2016 7:00 AM

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

What do you do when your favorite band breaks up or stops touring? If you want to get out of the house and listen to live music instead of playing their albums on repeat, you can look up local cover bands that play their songs. You may even find that you enjoy their fresh takes on old favorites just as much or even more than the originals! Houston’s full of great places to go out and listen to cover bands. Make sure to check these venues out the next time you’re in the mood to enjoy some live music.

Live music is the name of the game at the Concert Pub. Come by on weekends to hear some of the best rock and roll cover bands play inside their Galleria-area location. Recent bands have covered the Beatles, Judas Priest, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix and more. The party doesn’t stop inside, either – they have a DJ on the patio every evening for those who want to enjoy some fresh air. They have happy hour specials during the week until 7 p.m.

Not only can you hear cover bands performing some oldies but goodies, but at the Continental Club, you can dance the night away. Come hear their regular smash hit BEETLE, covering the best of The Beatles, with no cover until 10 p.m. every Thursday. Other upcoming bands include Disco Expressions, an all-disco 70’s band, and Von Hindenburg, a Led Zeppelin tribute band. Their lineup is a mix of local favorites and traveling new groups, so you’ll never be bored with what you find on their stage.

A museum might not be your first thought for a place to go hear live music, but the Mixers and Elixirs parties on Friday nights at the Houston Museum of Natural Science are a great way to enjoy some fantastic bands in a fun setting. One night a month, the museum turns its main exhibition halls into a club, complete with bars by the dinosaurs and a live band covering your favorites just inside the main exhibits. From 80’s favorites Molly and the Ringwalds to August’s featured band, Electric Circus, and everything in between, this is a unique way to see a great live performance and enjoy a night out.

Scout Bar is one of the best places in the city to discover new musical talent that’s homegrown – including some fun cover bands! They have live music nearly every evening with a very reasonable cover charge. Grab a group of friends for a special night out on the town with little hassle, because the people at Scout Bar want to make it as easy as possible for you to enjoy the music. Call ahead and they’ll reserve and even decorate your table for a special occasion! Have kids that you want to introduce to good tunes? They have some all-ages evenings so the whole family can enjoy.

Their tagline touts them as a great Italian restaurant and a heck of an Irish bar – and it’s completely true! Come down to the Theater District and enjoy some great drinks and delicious pasta while listening to live music on Friday and Saturday nights. They have a range of performers and groups that come through, with performers running through jazz standards to classic rock ballads. Ask about their dinner theater opportunities as well — they sometimes have special events with dinner and a set musical act in their party room downstairs.

Gillian Kruse is a freelance writer living in Houston. She graduated from Rice University with a great love for all performing and visual arts. She enjoys writing about arts and cultural events, especially little-known ones, to help Houstonians learn about what’s going on in their city. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.